Side Story #2
“P-Please let go of this.”
Ruslan stuttered, clearly flustered. But Bayan didn’t back down.
“I won’t let go until you call me big brother!”
Under Bayan’s rough handling, Ruslan’s neatly arranged silver hair had become a complete mess.
“B-Big brother.”
Ruslan stammered awkwardly. Only then did Bayan release his grip on Ruslan’s neck and grab his shoulders. He hugged him tightly and patted his back as if praising him.
“That’s right. From now on, you should call me that, little brother. Or I’ll mess up your hair again.”
Ruslan blinked awkwardly with his messy hair. But there was more than just awkwardness in his golden eyes. A subtle hint of gladness and joy had appeared. Seeing this, it was easy to imagine Ruslan’s usual life, accustomed only to living and acting as the crown prince. It was clear that no one had treated him this familiarly.
“Go on, run to father and give him a big hug. He’s been looking forward to your arrival so much.”
Bayan pushed Ruslan towards Enrique. Finding himself suddenly in front of Enrique, Ruslan looked up at him with awkward and cautious eyes. Enrique’s heart swelled at that look.
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and hug him while calling him dad.”
Bayan urged from behind. Enrique bent his knees to meet Ruslan’s gaze and stretched out his arms towards him.
“Come here, my baby.”
At Enrique’s gentle voice, Ruslan’s golden eyes trembled slightly. Enrique patiently waited, even as he saw Ruslan stiffen.
“…Your Majesty.”
Ruslan called out awkwardly.
“You should say ‘dad’.”
Bayan interjected from behind again.
Ruslan pressed his lips together. Then he looked back and forth between Enrique and Anture. He saw Anture nod. At that, Ruslan seemed to finally overcome his awkwardness and slowly opened his mouth.
“D… Dad.”
Ruslan called out softly, stumbling over the word. It was clear that this was his best effort. Instead of waiting any longer, Enrique pulled Ruslan into his arms.
“Ah!”
Ruslan let out a surprised sound and stiffened his body.
“I thought I would die missing you. Ruslan, our baby.”
Enrique whispered affectionately, holding tightly to Ruslan who, despite having grown a lot, still fit perfectly in his arms. He couldn’t express how dear and lovable the young boy’s presence was.
Enrique felt the tension slowly leave Ruslan’s body. He sensed Ruslan very cautiously returning his embrace.
“I missed you too, Dad.”
Ruslan whispered in a voice so small that only Enrique could barely hear it. Enrique hugged Ruslan more tightly and patted his back. Ruslan’s arms around Enrique also tightened.
“Enrique, don’t be selfish and hog him. Let me have a turn too.”
Anture suddenly interjected, reaching out his hands. He slipped his hands under the armpits of Ruslan, who was buried in Enrique’s embrace, and lifted the small body.
“Ah!”
Ruslan exclaimed in surprise, his eyes wide. Anture lifted Ruslan high, stared at his face, then laughed out loud as he hugged him tightly and patted his back.
“Hmm. You’ve grown well.”
Enrique felt deep emotion in Anture’s brief words.
“F-Father.”
This time, Ruslan called out to Anture softly without Bayan’s prompting. Seeming to like this address, Anture lifted Ruslan up and spun him around in the air. At first, Ruslan looked bewildered, but soon he started to laugh softly.
“Look at that, Father. That guy acts like a little old man, but he’s actually a total baby. I mean, he’s not even a baby anymore, what’s so fun about being spun around like that?”
Bayan grumbled quietly in Enrique’s ear. A hint of jealousy was evident in his voice. Enrique patted Bayan’s head and stood up.
“He’ll get dizzy. Let’s put him down now and go inside.”
At Enrique’s words, Anture finally stopped spinning Ruslan. By then, Ruslan seemed to have lost much of his awkwardness and wore a somewhat relaxed expression.
“Let’s go, Father.”
Bayan took Enrique’s hand and started walking ahead. Instead of putting Ruslan down, Anture carried him in his arms as he walked alongside Enrique.
*
For the first time since the funeral held two years ago when the King of Shamier passed away, all four family members were gathered together. Unlike the previous visit, no events were scheduled to welcome the Crown Prince of Ruben. It was a quiet visit solely to meet family.
Sitting around in the reception room, drinking tea and resting.
Ruslan sat with a mature posture, displaying the dignified behavior of a crown prince. Seeing this, Enrique felt immensely proud and appreciative, but also sorry and regretful. Of course, Ruslan would have carefully selected friends appointed by the emperor, and the emperor would dote on his grandson, but it couldn’t be the same as having his birth parents around.
In contrast, despite Enrique’s efforts to raise him strictly, Bayan was sticking close to his year-younger brother and chattering away. Enrique looked back and forth between the two starkly different brothers and then glanced at Anture. What was the point of Enrique being strict when Anture indulged and spoiled Bayan?
“Bayan, if you’re the older brother, you should act more mature.”
When Enrique finally spoke up, Bayan, who feared his father the most, immediately straightened his back and assumed a dignified posture. However, it was clearly visible that under the table, he was still playfully kicking Ruslan’s feet.
“Father, I want to go out and play with Ruslan.”
Bayan, finally tired of acting like a mature older brother, said. Then, grabbing Ruslan’s hand, he asked,
“Ruslan, want to see my new foal? It’s Casto’s offspring, and it’s so cute!”
“Casto?”
Ruslan asked, as if he didn’t know what that was.
“Casto is Father’s favorite horse. It’s Rotesha’s offspring that Father gave to Dad as a gift. It has a beautiful golden sheen, so everyone covets Casto’s foals.”
“Ah.”
Ruslan nodded as if he finally understood.
“And there’s also a gift they prepared for you. It’s an amazing black foal, and I’m sure it’ll suit you well.”
At Bayan’s words, Ruslan’s eyes sparkled. It was only natural for children to love horses.
Ruslan glanced at Enrique, seeking permission.
“Play together carefully and don’t let your brother get hurt.”
Enrique cautioned Bayan, knowing his mischievous nature.
“Yes, Father!”
Bayan quickly replied and pulled Ruslan’s hand. Ruslan looked slightly uncomfortable with such familiar behavior, but he seemed excited nonetheless and followed Bayan.
As soon as they stepped outside and the door opened, Bayan started running. Ruslan could be seen running after him.
“I wonder if your father will blame us for letting Bayan be a bad influence on Ruslan,” Enrique said, clicking his tongue softly.
“It looks good to me. Growing up in the Ruben Imperial Palace, he’s likely to become a little old man who doesn’t know what fun is, so it’s not bad for him to be influenced a little,” Anture said. Enrique chuckled at that.
“Come to think of it, when we first met, you were quite the little old man yourself.”
Enrique smiled, recalling the thirteen-year-old Anture. Soon, their children would be that age, and in time, they would grow into fine men, taller than Enrique.
“A little old man? I didn’t know you thought that. I just wanted to appear as a polite and impressive man to you.”
Anture said, meaningfully rubbing Enrique’s hand with his finger. Enrique slapped Anture’s mischievous hand.
After receiving a report that the children were playing well, the two headed straight to the conference room. Anture was still a Grand Duke of the Ruben Empire, so in principle, he wasn’t qualified to attend state meetings. But he had another status – Enrique’s husband. The nobles, knowing the strong relationship between the two, didn’t try to push Anture away. Instead, they treated him as an important figure who could maintain strong ties with Ruben.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
